In this episode you’re going to hear a group session I did in Amir Karkouti’s ‘What the F*#$ Are The Principles?’ group and it was not only a lot of fun (the session was called “Outsmart Jamie Smart”); it was also super-impactful for a lot of people, so I wanted to share it with you. Here’s what it was about: I asked people to think of the most difficult and challenging people to discuss your work with – especially clients – and then they came on the session LIVE and role-played those people and scenarios so I could demonstrate how I’d handle it.

Here are some of the examples: A psychotherapist who’s deeply embedded in a different way of working, and is defensive about the idea that transformation can be fast, simple and sustainable. A victim of child abuse who’s outraged at the idea that their suffering has anything to do with their thinking. A judge working in family court who’s got lots on their plate and needs things to be explained clearly and simply. We’ve also got the classic example of a coaching client who says “I know it’s my thinking, but how does that help me?”

When I tell you my response involved a hotdog made of cheese being fired into space, that may give you an idea of the kind of creativity and imagination that can help you when you’re dealing with these kinds of situations. In the process, I give plenty of pointers about what I’m responding to, and what’s informing the different ways I’m working with people, and how you can do this for yourself.

By the way, this episode is sponsored by the certified Clarity Coach Training programme, a 10-month immersion into the principles behind clarity. The programme is formally open for registration and it’s not just for coaches, we’ve had all sorts of people go through the programme including computer programmers, doctors, call centre workers, layers, parents PR specialists, therapists, office workers, entrepreneurs, surgeons, people who are already coaches and consultants and trainers and even a professional footballer and if you’re interested it’s worth knowing that we’re not running the programme next year so the intake that’s starting this September (2018) is the last chance you’ll get to join us until 2020 at the very earliest. So if you want to find out how to become a Clarity Coach and see what’s involved in bringing an understanding of these principles into every aspect of your life go to www.jamiesmart.com/coach